Corrections
One Monday the following classified classic ran in a small-town
newspaper:
- FOR SALE: R. D. Jones has one sewing machine for sale. Phone
555-0707 after 7 p.m. and ask for Mrs. Kelly, who lives with him cheap.
On Tuesday:
- NOTICE: We regret having erred in R. D. Jones' ad
yesterday. It should have read: One sewing machine for sale. Cheap. Phone
555-0707 and ask for Mrs. Kelly, who lives with him after 7 p.m.
On Wednesday:
- NOTICE: R. D. Jones has informed us that he has
received several annoying telephone calls because of an error we made
in his classified ad yesterday. His ad should read as follows: FOR
SALE: R. D. Jones has one sewing machine for sale. Cheap. Phone
555-0707 7 p.m. and ask for Mrs. Kelly, who loves with him.
On Thursday:
- NOTICE: I, R. D. Jones, have no sewing machine for
sale. I smashed it. Don't call 555-0707, as the telephone has been
disconnected. I have NOT carried on with Mrs. Kelly. Until yesterday,
she was my housekeeper, but she quit.
From:
Richard Lederer, More Anguished English,
Dell Publishing 1994.